Amusement apparatus



Aug. 5 1924. 1,504,116

J. FRANK AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed Sent. 23 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l L/bMPHA INVENTOR ATTORNEY Aug. 5 1924. 1,504,116 .1 FRANK AMUSEMENT APPARATUSFiled Sent. 25, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JMPH HANK,

INVENTOR Patented Aug. 5, 1924.

STTES JOSEPH FRANK, OF NEW YORK, Y.

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

Application filed September 23, 1922. Serial No. 590,162.

are each associated with an indicating element and in which theindicating elements and a dial are correlated, the apparatus includingdriving or operating means and driven means with which the said objectsor horses are moved respectively through circular paths; to employ novelconnection make and break devices between the operating means and theunits of the driven means so that the driven means is free to operatethough the operating means is stopped or not in motion; to employ meansincluding anti-friction devices and weightsfor facilitating the rotationof the saidobjects or.

horses; and with these and other objects in view the invention residesin the particular provision, construction and relative disposition ofparts hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawin s in which:

*igure 1 is a plan view.

Figure 2 is a plan view with moved.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 3-3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view of one of the connection make andbreak devices.

- Referring now more particularly to the several views of the drawings,it will be apparent that, the apparatus of the present invention willinclude a cabinet which supports the complete mechanism. This mechanismincludes spaced vertically disposed plates 11, 12 and 13. The plate hasattached thereto a bracket 14 which provides spaced horizontallydisposed plates 15. The plates 11 and 13 have attaching lugs 16 byvirtue of which and suitable fastening elements the complete mechanismis held in place in the cabinet. The free ends of the plates aresupported by props 17.

The cabinet 10 supports a dial 18 which is made up of sections 19 and20. The secthe dial re tion 19 is the larger of the two and surroundsthe section 20, and the section 19 is surrounded by a plate 21 having acircular opening therein. The section 19 is in the form of a ring,whereas the section is in the form of a disk. As assembled the plate 21,and sections 20 and 19 define circular ways or paths .22 and 23. Thesection 19 on the upper face thereof has imprinted thereon lines ofdemarcation 24 which define spaces 25 each of which spaces 25 has anumber therein. Pins 26 are arranged with respect to the radial lines 24for a purpose to appear.

One of the main features of the present invention is the employmentofobjects of any desired kind such as miniature horses 27 shown, whichare moved by. means to be described hereinafter to simulate a race. Thehorses 27 are each mounted on a post 28 each of which has a pointer 29.I The pointers 29 in conjunction with the numbered spaces 25 servetopoint out winning numbers as will be understood. Each of the posts 28has a flapper 30 which moves into and out of contact with related pins26 to somewhat retard the rotation of the horses 27.

Driven means is employed to which the horses 27 are connected. Thisdriven means comprises units 31 having weighted arms ,32. There is onehorse 27 connected to one of the arms 32 of each unit 31 by virtue ofthe post connected to said horse which post is adjustable on said arm32.

Driving means is employed which includes a shaft 33 rotatably supportedby the.

plates 15 of the bracket 14, vertically disposed. The lower end of theshaft 33 has connected thereto a gear 34 which meshes with a gear 35 onone end of a shaft 36 rotatably mounted in bearings carried by theplates 12 and 13. The shaft 36 has a pinion 37 which meshes with a gear'38 keyed to one end of shaft 39 mounted for rotation in bearingscarried by the plates 12 and 13. The free end of the shaft 39 hasattached thereto a crank 40 for effecting the rotation of the shaft 39.The shaft 36 has attached thereto a ratchet wheel 41 with whichpivotally mounted dogs 42 co-act to prevent reverse rotation of theshaft 36. The shaft 33 is screw threaded. Units 43 are threaded on tothe shaft 33 to be rotatable therewith. One unit 43 is juxtaposed withrelation to each of the units 31. A part of each of the units 31 and 43is provided with a race-way in which anti-friction balls 44 are disposedto facilitate rotation of the units 31. Each of the units 43 is providedwith radially disposed members 45 for a reason to be presentlyexplained.

In order that the units 31 may be rotated by virtue of the operation ofthe crank of the driving means, and in order that the units 31 maycontinue to rotate while the driving meansis inoperative, there areprovided connection make and break devices 46.

O e device 46 is carried by one of the arms 32 of each of the units 31.Each device 46 consists of an element 47 which is pivotally mounted asat 48 to allow the element 47 to oscillate. Each element 47 has a hook49 which engages its arm 32, and the lower extremity of each element 47is dis posed in the path of travel of the members of the juxtaposed unit43. It will now be manifest, that upon effectation of the rotation oftheshaft 33, the units 43 will be causedto rotate therewith, and as aconsequence one of the members. 45 of each of the units 43 will engagethe element 47 dieposed with relation thereto to in turn causetherotation of each unit 31. This action is caused in pa rt by theengagement of each hook 49 with its related arm 32. It is to beunderstood that each of the units 31 is loosely mounted on the shaft 33by the employment of members 50 which surround t-he said shaft 33. Itshould now be manifest that by turning the crank 40 it is possible torotate the units 31 and that by virtue of the impetus given to the units31 they will continue to rotate even though the driving means has ceasedto operate. At thi'stime the elements 47 ride idly over the members 45.v

It will be apparent from the drawings that the posts 28 extendrespectively through the ways 22 and 23; the pointer 29 of each postmoves with respect to the particular numberedspaces 25 so that when theparticular horse stops moving the pointer will indicate the winningmember; and the flapper 30 of each post '28 will move into.

and out of engagement with the particular pins 26 to gradually slow downthe move ment of the horses 27 What is claimed is:

1. An amusement apparatus, comprising a plurality of objects, a pointeron each of said objects, a dial for co-action by each of said pointersdriven units which move on anti-friction devices and each of said drivenunits having weighted arms on one of which arms of each driven units isarranged one of said objects, and means for effecting the rotation ofsaid driven units, said means includingmake and break devices carried byeach of said driven units for co -action with said arms. 7 j

2. An amusement apparatus, comprising a plurality of objects, a pointeron each of said objects, a dial for co-action by each of said pointersdriven units which move on anti-friction devices and each of said drivenunits having radially disposed weighted arms on one of which arms ofeach driven unit is arranged one of said objects, and means foreffecting the rotation of said driven units, said means including amember capable of oscillating on each driven unit and at times beingheld against movement relatively to said unit.

3. An amusement apparatus, comprising a plurality of objects each ofwhich is moved through a circular path, a pointer on each of saidobjects, a dial for co-action by each of said pointers drivingmeansincluding connection make and break devices, driven means includingsupports for said objects, said driven means being operated-by saiddriving means through and by virture of the said make and break deviceswith said supports.

4. An amusement apparatus, comprising a plurality of objects each ofwhich is'.

moved through a circular path, a pointerv on each of said objects, adial for co-action by each of said pointers driving means includingconnection make and break devices, driven means including supports forsaid objects, means for adjusting each of said objects with respect toits support, said driven means being operated through and by virtue ofsaid make and break devices.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

JOSEPH FRANK;

